Sense of balance training

Did you play hopscotch, turn cart wheels or skip over stones as a child? All these requires varying degree of balance. In our daily life, we are constantly faced with challenges to our sense of balance like slipping over a banana peel, tripping over the pavement or a wet surface.

The Balancing Act:
Balance is not something we generally think about as being part of overall fitness-but it should be. Balance training facilitates movement skill and raises athletic and functional movement potentials to new heights.

Why Balance?
All our daily activities requires balance. Even walking which we take for granted is the act of losing balance as one foot lifts up, and regaining it by stepping down. We often take our body’s ability to balance for granted As we age, our natural ability to maintain good balance as well as quick reaction time diminishes. According to American Running board member Ron Laurence M.D., “balance ability diminishes as we age, and can be improved with practice”.

Stand on one leg, roller blade, wind surf, ride a bike, inline skate of ski to maintain and improve your inherent balancing abilities.

Sports Performance:
Balance is an important factor in any type of sport, be it clearing a hurdle or reaching to catch a ball. fit individuals have a better balance, respond to training and learn sports skills more quickly.

Benefits of Balance Training
1. Improves posture and body alignment
2. Improves day to day functional stability
3. Strengthens core muscles
4. Improves co-ordination and self-awareness
5. Enhances neuron muscular awareness
6. Increases strength

Two Yoga Asanas to Improve Balance:
The Lord Of Dance:
Stand tall. Lift your right leg off the floor and hold your ankle. Arch your back and move your torso forward while raising the right leg behind you. Create a smooth arch through the right side of your body. balancing on the left leg. Hold for 10 breaths or longer if you can. Repeat with the other leg.

The Tree:
Stand tall with the right leg against the left inner thigh. place your hands in the namaste position and then slowly raise your hands up. Hold for 10 breaths or longer if you can. Repeat with the other leg.